Petra Day Trip from Sharm el Sheikh: Private Guide Tour

Private hike to Petra's Treasury summit with a guide who knows the unmarked trails

A full-day tour from Sharm el Sheikh to Petra with private guide, ferry crossing, and air-conditioned transfers. You hike the Al Khubtha trail through the Siq Canyon, visit the Roman Amphitheater and Royal Tombs, then climb a secret staircase to the mountain top for views of the Treasury that most visitors miss. The day runs 14 to 18 hours depending on border crossing time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour to Petra from Sharm El Sheikh

• Pick up from hotel in Sharm El Sheikh
• Travel by bus to Taba port
• Take ferry boat to Aqaba port
• Pick up from Aqaba port
• Transfer by vehicle to Petra
• Start tour at Visitor’s Centre
• Visit Siq and Treasury
• Walk Street of Facades and Royal Tombs
• Explore Qasr Al Bent
• Sail back from Aqaba to Taba port
• Transfer back to hotel in Sharm El Sheikh

The experience

Getting to Petra from Sharm el Sheikh means crossing water: a pickup from your hotel takes you to Taba port, then a ferry carries you to Aqaba. From there, an air-conditioned vehicle covers the 1.5-hour drive inland to the rose-red city. A private guide meets you at the Visitor's Centre and leads you either on horseback or on foot into the Siq, a narrow gorge carved through stone, and out to the Treasury facade. The route continues along the Street of Facades, past the Royal Tombs, and through Qasr Al Bent (the main sites most organized groups see), but the guide knows where to go next.

The Al Khubtha trail and the secret staircase are what set this tour apart. Instead of retracing your steps, you climb a path many visitors never find, ascending to the mountain top for an unobstructed view of the Treasury from above. A guide who knows the unmarked routes keeps you from wandering into dead ends and lets you see a side of Petra that the crowded main paths don't reach. Lunch is a buffet at a local restaurant, and a soft drink comes with the ferry ride back.

The return journey mirrors the outbound one: transfer to Aqaba port, ferry back to Taba, then the bus to your hotel in Sharm el Sheikh. Border crossings add time to the day, so the total can stretch from 14 to 18 hours depending on how long you spend waiting at each checkpoint. An English-speaking guide is with you throughout the Petra portion.

What’s included

• Pickup from your Sharm el Sheikh hotel.
• ferry crossing from Taba to Aqaba.
• air-conditioned transfers to and from Petra.
• private English-speaking guide.
• access to the Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades, Royal Tombs, and Qasr Al Bent.
• the Al Khubtha trail hike and secret staircase to the mountain summit.
• buffet lunch.
• one soft drink on the ferry.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday and SaturdayDeparts at 02:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 8 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by TripTip Egypt

Is this one for you?This tour demands a full day and involves a ferry crossing plus 1.5 hours each way by vehicle, so it suits travelers with time to spare and comfort with border procedures. The hike to the mountain top is the payoff. If you want to see Petra from above and walk trails most visitors skip, the private guide and the route make it possible. If you prefer a shorter visit to the main sites only, a half-day option from Aqaba would be faster.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3).

How do I get from Sharm el Sheikh to Petra on this tour?

You're picked up from your hotel by air-conditioned bus to Taba port, take a ferry boat to Aqaba, then transfer by vehicle for about 1.5 hours to Petra. The return follows the same route in reverse.

What is the Al Khubtha trail and why does it matter?

The Al Khubtha trail is a hiking route that climbs to the top of the mountain above Petra's Treasury. Most visitors see the Treasury from ground level. This trail takes you above it, and the guide knows the unmarked sections that let you reach the summit without getting lost in a maze of paths.

What sites do I visit inside Petra itself?

You walk through the Siq Canyon to the Treasury, then continue along the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs, and Qasr Al Bent. After that, the private guide leads you up the secret staircase to the mountain top for views of the Treasury from above.

Is the hike difficult, and can I ride a horse instead of walking?

You can choose to hike on foot or ride horseback into the Siq and to the main sites. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The climb to the mountain top via the secret staircase is a hike, not a horse route.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

Transfers by air-conditioned bus from Aqaba to Petra and back, the luxury ferry boat from Taba to Aqaba and return, buffet lunch, and one soft drink on the boat are all included. Drinks beyond that one are not included, so bring water for the hike.